Challenge for 2019: change your life by applying three simple Scriptures.
“…Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before” (Philippians 3:13).
What’s behind is unchangeable. Forgetting takes care of the past.
“My times are in thy hand…” (Psalm 31:15).
They are, aren’t they? Confidence in God takes care of the future.
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
Making this a daily prayer takes care of the present.
I’ve narrowed my problem-zones to these three—the past, the present, and the future. Aren’t those the areas that cause you the most trouble, too…from beginning of life to the end? Regret over the past and worry over the future can steal our joy today.
I cried, Lord, is there no solution?
He answered. Forget yesterday. Live to please me today. Trust me with your tomorrows.
Memory is a good thing. It allows us to relive an enjoyable moment. It can also be a bad thing, haunting us with failures, disappointments, and hurts. The past is exactly that—past—and we needn’t allow it to spoil the rest of our life.
I choose to forget yesterday.
Today is a fresh, unstained day…a new beginning. “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord” (Lamentations 3:21-26).
I choose to live in joy today, seeking to please the Lord in everything—the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart.
The future holds opportunity and adventure…but the unknown is scary. So many what-ifs intrude our thinking…worries about financial investments in an unstable economy, fears concerning personal health, anxiety about difficulties our family may encounter—all of this beyond our control.
I choose to remember, in uncertain days, that my times are in his hands.
Three-pronged strategy to change your life:
- Forget the past.
- Live to please the Lord today.
- Trust him with your tomorrows.
Here are the verses again. Why not print them, memorize them, and begin applying them to your life?
“…Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before” (Philippians 3:13).
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
“My times are in thy hand…” (Psalm 31:15).
Friend, go bravely into the New Year! My prayer for you:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in your faith,
that by the power of the Holy Spirit,
your whole life and outlook may be radiant with hope.
(Romans 15:13 Phillips)
I’d love to know your thoughts about embracing the New Year. Please leave a comment. Do you have a friend who struggles to get past the past? A friend who desperately searches for joy? A friend who fights worry and fear? Maybe this article will help. Appreciate your sharing.
© Dianne Barker 2019
6 responses to “Challenge: Change Your Life in 2019”
Powerful post, Dianne.
This made me not only smile, but also lough out loud, “I’ve narrowed my problem-zones to these three—the past, the present, and the future.” Haha! So true. Those are my issues.
So glad we have the power in the Lord to forget yesterday. And to move on today and tomorrow and every day into the future with Jesus, anticipating what “new” and what “change” He has in store for us. Living to please Him and trusting Him with tomorrows.
Thank you. I have been repenting over and over for things I did over 40 years ago and your message helped me to realize I have been forgiven.
Thanks, Karen. Yes, relying on God’s power is the key to a joy-filled life. When we come to the end of ourselves and surrender to Him, we don’t need to worry about the future. He’s leading. Our only responsibility is to follow and trust.
Sandra, it’s a glorious thing to realize we are forgiven and then–by an act of our will–to forgive ourselves and go forward, leaving the past behind. When the enemy brings past failures to mind, immediately turn the conversation around and praise the Lord for forgiveness and mercy. Draw near to Him and the enemy will flee! “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Praying the Lord floods your life with joy!
What!? Yesterday I did a mini purge (still a purge) and part of what did not get tossed was the journals kept during the last years of mom’s life. Painfully I relived some dark moments as I flipped through the pages of those journals. Before mom died, I considered writing our story; actually it is started. That will never happen now. You know that future zone: it was alive and well as I went to sleep. I prayed again for our sons that they would experience God’s faithfulness too in any dark moments in the future.
So teach me to number my days, Lord, that i may apply my heart unto wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)
Thanks, Dianne, for your timely post. ❤️
Mary Ann, thank you for sharing these precious thoughts! I certainly can relate. So thankful our sweet Lord is with us in the dark moments, that He is in control of our future, and that we can depend on Him to be faithful to us and those we love!